Yes. While many people suffer from acid reflux, not all of them have true acid reflux. It is true that there is a small group of patients who will truly benefit from acid reflux surgery. In this group of patients, surgery can be lifesaving.
Please read my Blog "Is it really acidity? Or is it IBS?"
Symptoms are caused by acid/food coming into the oesophagus (food pipe)or upto the throat. Surgery should be a treatment of choice in people who suffer from this condition. It is a burning sensation between the ribs or at the back of the throat. In some people, it can lead to recurrent throat infection or change of voice. If symptoms are severe, then it might feel like a heart attack at times.
Some or all of these symptoms are made worse by bending down or when in the lying position.
It happens if there is disruption in the defense mechanisms preventing the food/acid coming upto the chest.
1. Weak Lower Oesophageal Sphincter (LOS): LOS is a one-way valve at the lower end of the oesophagus. It is meant to allow food to go from the oesophagus to the stomach but not the other way around. When it is weak, it leads to acid reflux and burning of the oesophagus (oesophagitis).
2. Hiatus hernia: This is a condition when part of the stomach is in the chest through the weakness of the diaphragm muscle. This might give a sensation of food being stuck in the chest.
Yes. They are:
No
Lifestyle Changes
Drug Therapy
One should consider surgery in one of the following situations:
Now a days, surgery is performed as keyhole (laparoscopic). The surgery may not be complicated and has the following benefits:
It recreates the lost anatomical defence mechanism. In general, the stomach in the chest is returned to the normal abdominal position and the valve that is weak is strengthened. Part of the stomach (fundus) is wrapped around the lower end of the oesophagus to add extra strength to the valve.